Windshield cleaner



Feb. 6, 1934. J. BESSON I WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Feb. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. BESSON WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Feb. 15

Feb. 6, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2- BMW Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE] ,My invention relates to wind-shield cleaners of the oscillating arm type, a type wherein the cleaner proper is usually hooked onto the end of the arm which is either operated by hand or by an electric motor or an air motor to oscillate across the plane of the wind-shield glass.

Primarily, my invention has for its objects to provide a cleaner which will not only wipe rain and snow from the glass. but will effectively scrape or shave ice therefrom; to provide a cleaner of a simple, inexpensive construction whose parts when worn out, can readily be replaced; to pro vide a cleaner in which the movements of the same over the surface of the glass will at the same time provide a squeegee and a shaving action as the cleaner proper is moved in either direction transversely of its length over the surface of the wind-shield; to provide a cleaner which can be substituted for the wiper plates now commonly employed without changing the construction of the operating oscillating arm.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wind-shield wiper with my improved device applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the wiper proper which comprises my invention.'

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevation similar to Figure 2, but showing a modification of ,the invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 7 is a cross section on line '7.'! of Figure 6. a

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the device shown in Figures 6 and 7.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in all the figures, 1 is the oscillating arm and 2 the motor for oscillating the arm'of the wind-shield wiper.

My invention, which takes the place of the ordinary wiper blade, comprises a blade support 3 having the necessary hole or holes into which the arm 2 hooksor is fastened in such a manner that the support and arm aresubstantially rigidly connected.

The ends of the support 3 include bearing loops 5 for the rocking shaft 6, the ends of which are journalled in the bearing loops. 1

cured to the rocking shaft 6. In the embodimentof the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the squeegee device comprises a channelmember-Z that holds a squeegee rubber rib 8. The channel member is transversely slotted at 9 toreceive nuts 10 into which are tapped bolts 11 that pass through holes in the rocking shaft 6. The scraper blade 12 of thin, flat steel, having its longitudinal edges sharpened to a razor blade sharpness, is secured between the rocking shaft 6 and the channel member '7, the tap bolts 11 passing through apertures in the blade 12.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 the blade support is designated by 13. It haspne or more holes 14 for securing it to the oscillating arm 1, and it has bearing loops 15. It may be of the same construction as the blade support shown in the first embodiment of the invention.

1 The rocking shaft 16 is journalled in the bearing loops 15 and is apertured to permit passage of the tap bolts or screws 21.

The squeegee device in this embodiment consists of a spine-like bar fitted in the tubular rubber body 18 from which projects radially the squeegee rib 19. The bar 17 is-bored and tapped as at 20 for the bolts 21.- In this embodiment also the steel blade 22 is clamped or secured by the squeegee deviceand the rocking shaft 16. The blade 22, like theblade 12, is two-edged and is of thin steel having a flexibility about that of a two-edged razor blade. 1

In the operation of my invention it will be seen that the scraper blades lie normally at an angle of approximately. fortydegrees to the surface of'the wind-shield glass 23 and the rubber rib 8 or 19, as the case may be, lies with one of its angular edges in contact with the glass and inclined at an angle of approximately fifty degrees to the plane of the wind-shield glass.

As the wiper is drawn across the glass from right to left in Figure3, or from left to. right in .Figure v5, the friction of the rubber squeegee against the glass is utilized to hold a sharpened edge of the blade in contact with the glass so that it may shave the ice and snow from the glass, being followed up by the wiping action of the squeegee. As the wiper reaches the end of its stroke from right to left, Figure 3, and starts to' return, the friction of the rubber squeegee rib against the wind-shield glass will cause it to be retarded thereby, rocking the shaft 6 to reverse the angle of the squeegee rib and blade to bring the blade to the position shown in Figure 5 where the same cleaning action as before takes place during the movement of the wiper from left to right in Figure 5 (or right to left in Figure 8).

Thus it will be seen that no other meansis re-.

quired for reversing the action of the device, as its stroke is reversed, than the frictional contact A squeegee device and a scraper blade are le- 01 the squeegee rubber rib and the windshield I20 glass, it being of course understood that there is suflicient flexibility in the arm 1 to permit the riding over 'of the shaft 6 during the reversal process.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8, the blade support 22 ismade of a 30 which secure the blade 33, the body 26 and the aid in rocking it over.

hook onto the oscillating arm 1.

channel member 31 together (see Figure '7) The edges 2'7 of the member 26 engage the blade at -widely separated places.

has the usual hole 23 to A nut 32 within the channel member 31 receives the screw 30.

The squeegee member 34 is made up of several strips of rubber to facilitate its grip on the windshield glass in turning over the blade.

35 is a spring clip fitted over the member 22 and having inwardly bent ribs to catch over the edge of the member 22, the ends of the clip being bent laterally to provide fingers 37 that, due to lost motion between 1 and 23 whichlpermits 22 to rock on 1 (see dot and dash lines 38 of Figure 'l) ,-will exert a positive pressure on blade 33 to This is a decided advantage where slippery glass is encountered by the blade during its movements.

The upper one of the trunnions or cylindrical ends 28 is extended abovethe bearings 25 and has attached to it a flexible tube 40 for conducting hot air from the car's heater through the member 28 into the semi-cylindrical body 26, the edges of which are provided with notches or grooves 39 'to permit the hot air to flow out over the surface The blade support 22 of the blade 33 so that the blade may be kept warm and cause ice and snow with'which it comes in contact to melt.

From the foregoing description, taken. in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is tially parallel to the wind-shield glass;

thought that the complete constructiomoperation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

' 1. In a wind-shield wiper, wherein is provided an-arm mounted to oscillate in a plane substana. support having shaft bearings spaced apart, a rocking shaft journalled in said shaft bearings, a squeegee including a holder paralleling said shaft and a rubber body carried by said holder and having a rib to engage the surface of the wind-shield glass, means to secure said squeegee body tightly to said shaft, and a flat two-edged blade held between said shaft and said squeegee holder and located 'in a plane at right angles to said squeegee rib. o

2. In a wind-s eld wiper, wherein is provided an arm mountedto oscillate. in a plane substane tially parallel to the wind-shield glass; a support having shaft bearings spaced apart, a. rocking shaft journalled in said shaft bearings, a squeegee including a holder paralleling said shaft and a rubber body carried by said holder and having tween said shaft and said squeegee holder and located in a plane at right angles to said squeegee rib, the width of said blade being in excess of twice the distance from the middle line of the blade to the wind-shield glass measured along the axis of the squeegee rib.

3. In a wind-shield wiper, wherein is provided an arm mounted to oscillate in a plane substantially parallel to the wind-shield glass; a support having shaft bearings spaced apart, a rocking shaft journalled in said shaft bearings, a squeegee including a holder paralleling said shaft and a rubber body carried by said holder and having a rib to engage the surface of the wind-shield glass, means to secure said squeegee body tightly to said shaft, and a flat two-edged blade-held be;- tween said shaft and said squeegee holder and located in a plane at right angles to said squeegee rib, the width of the blade and the width of the squeegee device being so correlated that when both are in contact with the wind-shield glass the blade will be located at an angle of approximately forty degrees to the surface of the wind-shield glass.

4. In a wind-shield wiper, wherein is provided an arm mounted to oscillate in a plane" substantially parallel to the wind-shield glass; a support having shaft bearings spaced apart, a rocking member having a semi-cylindrical portion with cylindrical trunnions at its ends to fit said bearbearin'gs, a holder paralleling the axisof said member, a squeegee body held in said holder and having an edge to engage the wind-shield glass, a two-edged blade held between the'side edges of said member and said holder, means to secure said member and said blade and said holder together, and a spring clip on said support having laterally extended fingers to engage said blade as said arm changes the direction of movement 110 of the device over the surface of the wind-shield glass, said support having limited rocking movement about the axis of the supporting-arm.

5. In a wind-shield wiper, wherein is provided an arm mounted to oscillate in a plane substan- 115 tially parallel to the wind-shield glass; a support having shaft bearings spaced apart, a rocking member having a semi-cylindrical portion with cylindrical trunnions at its ends to fit said bearings, a holder paralleling the axis of said member, a squeegee body held in said holder and having an edge to engage the wind-shield glass, a two-edged blade held between the side edges of said member and said holder by screws passing through said member and said body and a nut on each screw, and a spring clip on said support having laterally extended fingers to engage said blade as said arm changes the direction of movement of the device-over the surface of the wind-shield glass, said support having limited rocking movement about the axis of the supporting arm.

6. In a windshield wiper, wherein is provided an arm mounted to oscillate in a plane substantially parallel to the wind-shield glass; a support having shaft bearings spaced apart, a rocking member having a semi-cylindrical portion with cylindricaltrunnions at its ends to fit said bear ings, a holder paralleling the axis of said memher, a squeegee body held in said holder and having an edge to engage the wind-shield glass, a two-edged blade held between said member and said holder, means to secure said member and said blade and said holder together, said semicylindrical portion having notched edges engaging said blade, and means for delivering hot air through one of said trunnions into said semi-' cylindrical portions to flow out through said notches over the surface of the blade.

JACOB BESSON. 

